L.A Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp was placed on the 15-day disabled list following the team’s 3-1 triumph over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night, move club officers had decided to make before the game. Scores

Kemp went through an MRI exam earlier on in the day that showed a strain in his left hamstring, which had been bothering him for over a week.

Dodgers executive Don Mattingly said to the media before the game that Kemp was available to pinch hit, but Mattingly expounded after the game that Kemp was not, actually available, meaning the Dodgers simply had been expecting to keep the Diamondbacks unsure about Kemp’s standing. By not appearing in the game, Kemp finished his consecutive-games streak, which had been the longest in the majors, at 399 games.

For now, the injury isn’t predicted to sideline Kemp longer than fifteen days. He is going to be able to return on May 29 against the Milwaukee Brewers.

“They had to talk me into it a little bit,” related Kemp, whose only previous DL stint came in April 2007.” It’s hard to sit out 15 days. I was going crazy watching (this game). But we have got a bunch of good players on this team. They will continue to play well. When I return, I’m going to help them any way I am able to help us win.”

Kemp said in public following Sunday’s game, which he left after the 3rd inning when the hamstring flared up, that he “positively’’ was not going on the disabled list. But after meeting with team physician Doctor Neal ElAttrache following the MRI, Kemp ultimately became convinced this was the correct course of action.

“It’s a mild strain,” Mattingly asserted. “But Doc told him if he did it again, it might go from a Grade 1 to a Grade 2…. That was the thing Doc said to Matt before the game, that we want to get this healthy and let it heal up and not let it be a problem all year.’ ‘

The development came at the end of a day in which the Dodgers already had lost their first 3rd baseman, Juan Uribe, to the DL with continued soreness in his left wrist, meaning Mattingly will need to do lots of mixing and matching over the following couple of weeks with what is definitely a used line-up.

Mattingly related Tony Gwynn Jr. will get the majority of the starts in center field, but that right fielder Andre Ethier, who hasn’t played center during the regular season in the majors but did play there at Arizona State College and also started there for the National League in the 2010 All-Star Game — also could get 2 starts there if Mattingly wants to insert Sands into right field.

Elian Herrera, who was promoted from Albuquerque earlier during the day to take Uribe’s spot, also could see time in center.

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